Rug hooking frame construction for supporting and stretching a hooked rug fabric

ABSTRACT

A rug hooking frame for supporting and stretching a hooked rug fabric is supported at its four corners in a raised position on upper extremities of tubular members, in turn, secured at opposite ends of an underlying flat base. The frame comprises four fabric retaining bars occurring at right angles to one another and having respective card clothing holders and card clothing strips detachably secured in the holders at upper outer sides thereof for engaging with a rug fabric. Two of the bars are fixed in the frame. The remaining two bars are mounted on separate shafts formed with handle portions for turning the shafts independently of one another and in a clockwise direction. Torsion springs are combined with the shafts and their handle portions in positions to lock the shafts against counterclockwise movement. A vertically adjustable stand is provided with inwardly projecting clamp means engageable with the base to locate the frame in desired positions of vertical and horizontal adjustment with respect to a seated operator.

United States Patent [191 Batey [4 1 Dec. 2, 1975 RUG HOOKING FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR SUPPORTING AND STRETCHING A HOOKED RUG FABRIC [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Mayflower Textiles Co., Inc.,

Franklin, Mass.

[22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1974 [211 App]. No.: 513,557

Thomas E. Batey, Weston, Mass.

[52] US. Cl. 38/l02.9l [51] Int. Cl. D06C 3/08 [58] Field of Search 38/102, 102.1, 102.4, 102.9,

38/102.91; 26/54, DIG. 1, 62 R, 62 A, 62 L Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or FirmMunroe 1-1. Hamilton [57] ABSTRACT A rug hooking frame for supporting and stretching a hooked rug fabric is supported at its four corners in a raised position on upper extremities of tubular members, in turn, secured at opposite ends of an underlying flat base. The frame comprises four fabric retaining bars occurring at right angles to one another and having respective card clothing holders and card clothing strips detachably secured in the holders at upper outer sides thereof for engaging with a rug fab ric. Two of the bars are fixed in the frame. The remaining two bars are mounted on separate shafts formed with handle portions for turning the shafts independently of one another and in a clockwise direction. Torsion springs are combined with the shafts and their handle portions in positions to lock the shafts against counterclockwise movement. A vertically adjustable stand is provided with inwardly projecting clamp means engageable with the base to locate the frame in desired positions of vertical and horizontal adjustment with respect to a seated operator.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet1of2 3,922,804

US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,922,804

o 3 I (WW RUG HOOKING FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR SUPPORTING AND STRETCHING A HOOKED RUG FABRIC BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Rug frames of the class employed for supporting and stretching a hooked rug fabric are well known in the art as disclosed in US Pat. No. 2,832,171, wherein there is described an adjustable frame body which makes use of card clothing strips for engaging a section of rug fabric along four opposite sides thereof. In the rug frame of U.S. Pat. No. 2,832,171, two frame components are stationary while two components have associated therewith intermeshing gears mounted for rotative movement in unison with one another together with a common ratchet and pawl mechanism. The ratchet and pawl are arranged to lock both of the frame components in desired positions of adjustment.

This rug frame construction has been found to be objectionable and unsatisfactory since stretching necessarily has to take place in two directions simultaneously and the use of intermeshing gears and ratchet and pawl mechanism is cumbersome, expensive and difficult to maintain in proper adjustment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a rug frame is provided in which means for moving two bars in unison are not employed, and the use of intermeshing gears and ratchet and pawl locking means has been eliminated. In place of this, the rug frame of the invention includes means for moving two card cloth supporting bars independently of one another and it is a chief object of the invention to provide an improved rug frame in which two rug engaging bars may be turned by hand independently of one another.

Another object of the invention is to devise a rug frame in which independently rotatable bars are combined with torsion spring locking means in a unique manner to provide greater selectivity, easier adjustment, simplified construction and more precise locking of each of the bars in any desired position of adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for receiving and positioning card clothing strips in rug frame bars. I

Still another object of the invention is to devise a mounting stand on which the rug frame may, when desired, be detachably received for improved positioning of the frame, both horizontally and vertically of a seated operator.

The nature of the invention and its other objects and novel features will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rug frame and stand assembly of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the stand illustrated in FIG. 1 with the rug frame removed therefrom.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the frame body shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3 and illustrating an upper side of a hooked rug fabric mounted on the rug frame with corner portions being broken away to show torsion spring locking members.

FIG. 5 is a detail elevational view and partial cross section taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4 and illustrating fragmentarily a corner section of the frame.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The rug hooking frame apparatus of the invention in general comprises a set of four fabric retaining bars and means for selectively rotating two of the bars into a fabric stretching positions while continuously locking the rotated bars against any movement in a counterclockwise direction.

In one preferred embodiment, the frame is located in a raised position on a post and base assembly and can be utilized by positioning the base on any desired supporting surface. However, the base may also be utilized with a floor mounted stand which is readily adjustable both vertically and horizontally, and which positions the rug frame in a desirable relationship to a seated op erator.

Considering this hooking frame apparatus in more detail, FIG. 1 shows the frame assembly combined with a floor mounted stand, while FIG. 2 shows the frame assembly removed from the stand for use on any desired table or other mounting surface.

As shown in the FIGURES, the frame assembly includes a set of fabric retaining bars 1, 3, 5 and 7 arranged in right angularly disposed relationship to one another and located in a raised position on a supporting post structure. The post structure comprises a pair of U-shaped tubular bodies which include post portions 2, 4, 6 and 8. Lower sections of the U-shaped bodies are rigidly secured to a flat base member 10 by means of screws as 10a and 10b. At their upper ends, the post portions 6 and 8 are reinforced by a transverse bracing rod 12.

As is most clearly shown in FIG. 4, two of the retaining bars 3 and 5 are secured by screws as 3a, 3b, 5a, Sb in fixed relationship with upper extremities of upper portions 2, 4 and 6. Of the two remaining bars, the member 1 is mounted for rotative movement in a clockwise direction on a shaft element 14. The shaft 14 extends centrally through the bar 1 which is fixed on the shaft. One end of this shaft 14 is rotatably received in the tubular part 8, as shown in FIG. 4. The opposite end of shaft 14 is rotatably received through the tubular post 2. An outwardly projecting part of shaft 14 terminates in a bent handle portion 16.

Similarly, the bar 7 is mounted for rotative movement in a counterclockwise direction on a shaft element 18 to which it is fixed. One end of shaft element 18 is received in tubular post 6, as shown in FIG. 4, and the opposite end of the shaft 18 extends through the tubular post 8 and terminates in a right-angularly disposed handle portion 20.

ltwill be apparent that the handles 16 and 20 may be individually operated to turn either of the two bars in a clockwise direction, and when the four bars 1, 3, 5 and 7 are engaged with the fabric F, as shown in FIG. 1, by means of the card clothing strips earlier referred to, turning one of the handles will stretch the fabric in one direction and turning the remaining handle will stretch the fabric in a direction at right angles to the said first direction of stretching. Thus a great deal of variation 3 and control in stretching of the fabric F may be realized which is advantageous for rug hooking purposes.

As earlier noted, the use of card clothing strips with their customary bent-wire ends is well-known in the art. However, in the present invention, I have provided special card clothing holders which avoid difficulties earlier experienced in the use of these devices. The four card clothing holders are indicated in the drawings by the numerals 22, 24, 26 and 28, in which are located strips 30, 32, 34 and 36. Essentially each of these holder members includes an arcuate base part against which a strip is pressed by retaining edges to assume an outwardly bowed shape which gives maximum strength to the bent wire ends of the card clothing. This channeled arrangement also allows the strips to be readily slid into and out of an operative position and replacement is facilitated. The holder 28, for example, and its arcuate shape and retaining edges is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 5, and is intended to be representative of all of the remaining holders. As noted in FIG. 5, the outer side of the bar 1 is formed with an arcuate shape generally indicated by arrow 40, and the outer convex surface of this member is further shown in FIG. 6 and denoted by the arrow 42. The holder is made to conform a strip to this curved shape as is seen in FIG. and when a strip of card clothing is slid into this holder and contained in its upper edge by the retaining edges 44 and 46, it will necessarily assume the desired arcuate shape or curve which best allows the wire ends of the card clothing to yieldably engage in and stretch portions of the fabric F with a light pulling force.

In accordance with the invention, I further combine with the retaining bar construction described, special locking means for continuously maintaining the bars, during all positions of clockwise rotation, locked against any counterclockwise travel. This is accomplished by combining a set of two coiled torsion spring members 50 and 52 with outer portions of the shafts l4 and 18 occurring between the posts 2 and 8 and their respective holders l6 and 20, as suggested in FIGS. 4 and 5. Each of the springs is arranged to have an end anchored to an adjacent post surface, as illustrated by the end 50a secured around the holding screw 50b.

An important feature of the coiled spring arrangement resides in constructing the inner diameter of the springs, in their normally relaxed positions, of a size corresponding to the outer diameter of the shafts around which they are received. Each shaft is thus slidably engaged with respective shaft surfaces and has an end anchored to an adjacent post surface in a position such that turning the handles in clockwise directions may be readily accomplished, but at any point of clockwise positioning, movement of the bars and shafts in a clockwise direction will instantly cause the inner coiled spring surfaces to tighten upon their shafts with the result that these inner spring surfaces frictionally grip their respective shaft surfaces and lock the bars against any counter-clockwise movement. Thus a section of fabric may be held with a constant tension, or the tension may be selectively increased in any direction without any relaxation occurring in the fabric at any point. When the fabric is desired to be separated from the card clothing strips, this is readily accomplished by stripping off the fabric F from the upper righthand corner of the frzme and then pulling the fabric downwardly.

The rug frame structure above described may as earlier noted by utilized with a special floor mounted stand member, in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As noted therein, the stand includes a U-shaped base 56 having upwardly extending legs 57 and 57a of tubular form. Slidably received in the members 57 and 57a are extension parts 59 and 59a which are joined together by an upper horizontally projecting part 61. Solidly secured around the member 61, as shown in FIG. 2, is a clamp member 60 which is formed of a shape suitable for snugly engaging around the base member 10. A fastening member 62 secures the clamp tightly on the base member.

It will be observed that the inwardly projecting part 61 functions to position the rug frame very close to the body of a seated operator. and by adjusting the members 59 and 59a, a range of vertical positioning may be realized.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for supporting and stretching a hooked rug fabric, said apparatus comprising a rug hooking frame, post means arranged in the underside of the frame for locating corner portions thereof in a raised position, said rug hooking frame including four fabric retaining bars positioned at right angles to one another and having secured at the upper sides thereof respective card clothing holders, card clothing strips detachably received in the holders for engaging and stretching a rug fabric, two of the retaining bars being secured to the post means in fixed relation therewith, the remaining two retaining bars being mounted in the post means for rotative movement independently of one another in clockwise directions, handle means for turning the rotatable bars separately of one another and locking means responsive to movement of the handles to resist counterclockwise movement of respective rotatable bars in any position of adjustment.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the rotatable bars include shaft elements located therethrough and outer extremities of said shaft elements being angularly shaped to form the said handle means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the said locking means consists in a pair of coiled torsion springs anchored to adjacent post means and slidably arranged around respective adjacent shaft surfaces.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the outer diameters of the shafts and the inner diameters of the coiled springs are similar to provide for frictional engagement and locking of spring surfaces on the shafts when the springs are turned in directions to tighten respective coiled portions thereof.

5. A structure according to claim 1 in which the card clothing holders are formed with arcuate channels and spaced retaining edges for imparting an outer curved shape to respective card clothing strips contained therein.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the said post means includes a pair of spaced-apart U-shaped tubular bodies and a flat base member attached between the bottoms of the U-shaped tubular bodies.

7. Apparatus for supporting and stretching a hooked rug fabric, said apparatus comprising a rug hooking frame, post means arranged in the underside of the frame for locating corner portions thereof in a raised.

position, said rug hooking frame including four fabric retaining bars positioned at right angles to one another and presenting arcuate upper sides, card clothing holders secured on respective upper arcuate sides of the bars, respective card clothing strips detachably received in the holders for engaging and stretching a rug 6 eluding a pair of spaced-apart U-shaped tubular bodies, a flat base member attached between bottom portions of the U-shaped tubular bodies, a vertically adjustable tubular stand secured to the base, said stand being formed with an inwardly projecting bracket section and a clamp element rigidly attached thereto, said clamp member having a U-shaped formation for enclosing and engaging with the said frame base. 

1. Apparatus for supporting and stretching a hooked rug fabric, said apparatus comprising a rug hooking frame, post means arranged in the underside of the frame for locating corner portions thereof in a raised position, said rug hooking frame including four fabric retaining bars positioned at right angles to one another and having secured at the upper sides thereof respective card clothing holders, card clothing strips detachably received in the holders for engaging and stretching a rug fabric, two of the retaining bars being secured to the post means in fixed relation therewith, the remaining two retaining bars being mounted in the post means for rotative movement independently of one another in clockwise directions, handle means for turning the rotatable bars separately of one another and locking means responsive to movement of the handles to resist counterclockwise movement of respective rotatable bars in any position of adjustment.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the rotatable bars include shaft elements located therethrough and outer extremities of said shaft elements being angularly shaped to form the said handle means.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the said locking means consists in a pair of coiled torsion springs anchored to adjacent post means and slidably arranged around respective adjacent shaft surfaces.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the outer diameters of the shafts and the inner diameters of the coiled springs are similar to provide for frictional engagement and locking of spring surfaces on the shafts when the springs are turned in directions to tighten respective coiled portions thereof.
 5. A structure according to claim 1 in which the card clothing holders are formed with arcuate channels and spaced retaining edges for imparting an outer curved shape to respective card clothing strips contained therein.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the said post means includes a pair of spaced-apart U-shaped tubular bodies and a flat base member attached between the bottoms of the U-shaped tubular bodies.
 7. Apparatus for supporting and stretching a hooked rug fabric, said apparatus comprising a rug hooking frame, post means arranged in the underside of the frame for locating corner portions thereof in a raised position, said rug hooking frame including four fabric retaining bars positioned at right angles to one another and presenting arcuate upper sides, card clothing holders secured on respective upper arcuate sides of the bars, respective card clothing strips detachably received in the holders for engaging and stretching a rug fabric, two of the retaining bars being secured to the post means in fixed relation therewith, the remaining two retaining bars being mounted in the post means for rotative movement independently of one another in clockwise directions, handle means for turning the rotatable bars separately of one another and locking means responsive to movement of the handles to resist counterclockwise movement of respective rotatable bars in any position of adjustment, said post means including a pair of spaced-apart U-shaped tubular bodies, a flat base member attached between bottom portions of the U-shaped tubular bodies, a vertically adjustable tubular stand secured to the base, said stand being formed with an inwardly projecting bracket section and a clamp element rigidly attached thereto, said clamp member having a U-shaped formation for enclosing and engaging with the said frame base. 